Congratulations Kristen Beltran, Board Eligible Prosthetist Orthotist

We are so happy to congratulate Kristen Beltran, who has completed her Residency in Prosthetics and Orthotics at Dankmeyer, Inc.  Kristen is now Board Eligible - and that means time to take some tests!

Originally from Kalamazoo, MI, Kristen joined the Dankmeyer team in 2015 to do her double residency.  She received a BS in Therapeutic Recreation with a Mathematics minor from Grand Valley State University, followed by her Master’s in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Northwestern University. Kristen first became interested in prosthetics and orthotics in high school, where she had a soccer coach who wore a prosthetic leg. She has worked with adaptive sports and recreation programs over the years.  Since coming to Dankmeyer, she has participated for the last two years in a local middle school 3D E-Nable project, providing resources for middle schoolers in the STEM program to learn about prosthetics and orthotics and the use of 3D technology.

English Setter Moxie on the Move

Moxie was first introduced to Dankmeyer in November of 2016, when she was seven months old and christened “Autumn” by her rescuers.  When found, this little English Setter mix was missing her left hind leg below the knee.  They approached Dankmeyer, Inc. about making her a prosthesis, and during that evaluation process, the pup was adopted by Dankmeyer staff member Jeanne Smith and her family.  She was renamed Moxie after Jeanne asked fellow Dankmeyer staff to make suggestions in a naming contest.  "Moxie" was the winner - meaning courage, determination, energy, and pep - and all those words describe this little bundle of fun!

Since then, the Dankmeyer team, headed by Jed Newhardt, CPO,  have been collaborating, creating and trialling different prosthetic designs in order to find the best fit for Moxie. The process takes time and patience; monitoring her day to day, taking her out in the community and parks for walks and runs to check the functionality, fit and comfort; then taking those results and tweaking and redesigning and refitting.  Moxie is adapting well to the challenges during this process. Soon she will be modelling her new high fashion leopard print designed prosthesis.

She is now learning to jump up in efforts to teach her balance and support when outside in the community.  She has now mastered, with her newfound confidence, descending the stairs without sliding on her belly!  As her confidence and strength grow, so does her love for meeting and making new friends.

Moxie is a true joy and inspiration to all who come in contact with her.

Here is a video of Moxie playing with her family, testing a prosthesis.

Easton Office Fully Repaired

If you saw our news last October, you know that we had an unexpected visitor at our newly opened Easton office!  With a crash and bang, someone accidentally drove through the front entrance.  No one was hurt, but it did quite surprise Patient Services Representative Moranda Ostrander, who was stationed at reception.  

So having recently invited patients to an Open House held just a month earlier, now we had to switch gears and invite patients to enter at the rear of the building.  The front entrance was boarded up and secured for safety.  Once Easton officials could inspect the damage, repairs could be started.  So, patients were directed around the back until such time as a temporary front door could be framed.

Getting at least one front door back in action didn't take too long.  Interior work, including replacing flooring, drywall and paint, quickly followed.  The front restroom was rebuilt.  It wasn't until last week that the exterior brick work was completed.  Finally, two new doors were installed! Now, all we lack is the lettering that should appear on the doors, and the office will have been restored to its Open House glory!  We were open all along, but now it looks much more presentable.  Thanks to our patients who were patient with the unexpected renovation.

Allegany College of Maryland Welcomes Mark Treasure, CP, BOCO

Providing resources for education to a variety of professionals and institutions is part of Dankmeyer, Inc.’s mission: “Enriching the lives of those we serve through excellence in patient care, research, education and maximum customer value.”  Lectures in Prosthetics and Orthotics augment Physical Therapy training programs among others.  Monday, January 30, 2017, Dankmeyer's Cumberland office practitioner, Mark Treasure, visited Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) as an annual guest lecturer to the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program.  This year the program’s director, Karin Savage, PT, DPT, asked Mark if he could possibly bring a patient who would be willing to share his (or her) life experience as an amputee.

Karin Savage, Joe Loibel and Mark Treasure at Allegany College of Maryland

Gerald “Joe” Loibel willingly agreed to participate in the program with his prosthetist, Mark.  Joe, a bilateral lower limb amputee, frequently speaks to organizations about his experiences and has participated in previous Dankmeyer teaching events.  An engaging storyteller, Joe shared with the students how he became an amputee after a motorcycle accident, and how with the use of prostheses, physical therapy and determination, he was able to walk, return to hunting in the woods and many other activities.  ( Dankmeyer is looking forward to Mr. Loibel sharing his story on the Dankmeyer website in the near future.)

Afterwards, Mark received a lovely letter from the ACM PTA Class of 2017 thanking him for his “dedication and expertise to the academic advancement” of the students:

“We are very fortunate to have your support.  You have been a dependable and foundational source of information for the PTA Program and the students for many years.  It is greatly appreciated…..”

Mark has been a staff member of Dankmeyer for 37 years, 26 of those as a Certified Prosthetist.  Before his training and certification as a prosthetist, Charles Dankmeyer (now retired, CPO and former owner of Dankmeyer, Inc.) sent Mark to a course to be an orthotic fitter/surgical appliance technician which trained him to, at the time, be able to fit surgical appliances such as custom fitted neck braces, back braces, knee braces and Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs.)  He would later pursue his orthotist certification through the Board Of Certification.  Mark, a native of Maryland, worked with plaster and molds growing up - his father was an artist and sculptor.  Mark says this work with his hands was influential in his career choice.    After work, Mark is an active member of the community with his wife Linda.  He is particularly active in his church, and is an accomplished musician.  He volunteers with various organizations when he is not composing music and encourages others to participate in the arts. 

At Dankmeyer, Mark loves the challenge of meeting the needs of his patients. When patients and their families come into the Cumberland area office, they are greeted by the ready smiles of Mark and Heather Iman, Patient Services Representative. He strives to successfully assess their needs and provide the devices and patient care that will see them out in the community, accomplishing their goals and fulfilling their dreams.  Mark looks forward to teaching opportunities to share his love for his profession and patients with other professionals. Congratulations, Mark, for 37 years of service to Dankmeyer and to Prosthetics and Orthotics!

If you are interested in Mark Treasure or any other Dankmeyer professional presenting a lecture or in service, be sure and contact our Patient Liaison, Toni Robinson, for more information (click here.)  

Congratulations to Newly Certified Orthotist, Kelsey Kasten!

Congratulations to Dankmeyer's Kelsey Kasten who is now a Board Certified Orthotist! Kelsey completed her Orthotics Residency at the University of Iowa and came to Dankmeyer last summer to start her Prosthetics Residency. In the meantime, she took her board exams and has been waiting for results. We are very happy for her success!  If you would like to know more about Kelsey, visit our Clinical Staff page, by clicking here.